Waterville, ME 10/19/2022 – The City of Waterville is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP), seeking a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) to assist with the management and reporting of a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This RFP process is a standard requirement of the EPA following a successful grant application. Proposals must be submitted to the City of Waterville by 4 PM on Tuesday, November 15. Proposals will be reviewed by the City staff and candidates will be selected based on the quality of the proposal, experience, and programmatic fit.
“It’s an exciting and dynamic time to be working through construction and development projects in Waterville,” remarks Waterville City Engineer Andrew McPherson. “So many of our historical sites and structures need extra review before construction can take place; this funding cultivates the opportunity to clean up and redevelop those structures.”
Brownfield sites are those which have been contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. Sites that complete the assessment process can be redeveloped into a diverse range of uses, including housing, commercial and retail businesses, industrial workspaces, and more. The $500,000 grant carries a federal requirement to secure a consulting QEP to provide technical assistance throughout the project. As a result of the successful EPA grant, the cost of the QEP will be covered from an allocation of these federal dollars.
“With our community’s history of manufacturing — and approximately 82% of housing constructed before 1950 — lead paint, asbestos, and other hazardous substances are prevalent throughout the area; removing these hazards will make projects in Waterville less costly and more attractive to developers, investors, and redevelopment related opportunities,” says Central Maine Growth Council Economic Development Specialist Gabe Gauvin. “Securing a qualified and experienced consultant to assist with the navigation of this federal program will broaden the capacity of the city’s development team, support future brownfield planning and funding opportunities, and allow us to prioritize identified projects that are becoming shovel ready for investment and redevelopment.”
The QEP activities are being conducted as part of the City of Waterville’s Brownfields program. It is anticipated that this EPA grant-funded program will remain in effect through September 2026, but may be extended if additional funding or permission is secured. The QEP will work under the direction of the City of Waterville in collaboration with City staff, the Brownfields Advisory Committee (BAC), property owners, and developers. The selected QEP’s tasks will include work on Phase I and Phase II site assessments, clarifying the historical record of ownership, the past site uses as well as the breadth and depth of the hazardous materials currently present. In addition, the selected QEP will assist in the creation of a cleanup & reuse plan for each specific site, determining a path forward for the development and marketing of the site once remediated.
The QEP will be required to complete all reporting requirements, supervised by the City of Waterville’s project manager, Andrew McPherson. Submittals must be made electronically to amcpherson@waterville-me.gov by 4 PM on Tuesday, November 15. The full RFP can be found on the city’s website at https://www.waterville-me.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/RFP_QEP_V.1.06_Final.pdf
Last modified: October 19, 2022
